A FEMALE airline pilot won a three-year sex discrimination battle against British Airways yesterday to cut her flying hours by half.

Jessica Starmer fought to go part-time so she could look after her young daughter Beth.

She had already won an employment tribunal supporting her claim two years ago as well as an appeal from BA. But it was not until yesterday that the airline decided not to take the case to the Court of Appeal.

Mrs Starmer, whose husband Simon is also a BA pilot, said: "I'm absolutely delighted that I will not have to give up my career."

The mum, of Wareham in Dorset, has been working 75 per cent of her contracted hours since her campaign began three years ago.

BA argued at the original tribunal in 2005 it had acted on grounds of safety, not gender.

It said pilots should have more than 2,000 flying hours' experience before reducing their hours by half.

Jim McAuslan, of the British Airline Pilots Association, said yesterday: "Pilots are in a highly skilled job, in short supply, and unless airlines start to show flexibility they will struggle to recruit."

BA said: "We intend pilots in similar circumstances to Mrs Starmer will be eligible for 50 per cent contracts subject to the same measures in future."